“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”

We sung that little rhyme when we were kids, believing the lie that only sticks and stones do the hurting and never the name calling.

The names or things people spoke over you, well they never hurt, right?

The word curses that we left, untouched and un-dealt with in the dark corners of our minds, start to spread like an untreated Cancer.

Until you believe every name that the word curses spoke over you.

What names have you settled with?

FITTING ROOM MIRRORS

As I sat in the fitting room the other day of a clothing store, waiting for my daughter to try on the dress she had chosen for her Year 10 Formal Dinner. I couldn’t help over hearing all the conversations that the women behind the fitting room doors were having.

It was either a mum, or a trusted girlfriend they were talking to. Two of the most valued opinions when trying on anything in a fitting room.

Anyway,

One of the girls came out of the fitting room.

She wasn’t a skinny size 2 model, more of a Marilyn Monroe figure, but she had on a stunning silk flower print dress.

Her girlfriend said she loved the dress and she looked gorgeous in it.

Which she did.

The girl looked in the fitting room mirror, twirled around, pulled the dress in all different directions, frowned and said, “Really? Does it look okay?”

What did that girl see or perceived to of seen in the reflection of that fitting room mirror?

What word curses could she hear in her mind, that started to replay over and over like a never-ending loop?

Fat.

Ugly.

Worthless.

Unloved?

Sticks and stones may have broken your bones, my friend.

But it’s those words.

Words that have pierced your soul like a rusty blade.

Words that you can’t seem to be free from.

But those words don’t define you.

Those cruel words don’t have the last say.

God does.

And He says,

YOU ARE CHOSEN. (Ephesians 1:11)

Let that sink in…

He CHOSE you before the creation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)

Just ponder on that thought for a moment…

YOU

WERE

CHOSEN

BY

HIM

Before God said, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:2)

Doesn’t that just blow your mind?!?

So the next time you find yourself in a fitting room, trying on clothes.

Make sure you’re looking closely in that mirror.

Because the reflection staring back at you will have said one word only

CHOSEN

Wendy xo